Pica - Rumination - Food Avoidance

In the previous post, we saw how eating behavior involves more than just the act of eating; it’s a more complex process that also includes food choices and how food is consumed.

Pica (or pica disorder) involves eating non-food substances, such as dirt, chalk, stones, or paper. As you can imagine, this behavior can harm the body, which not only fails to obtain nutrients but also struggles to physiologically process certain substances.

According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), Pica is characterized by:

• Ingesting non-edible substances for at least 1 month.
• The behavior cannot be attributed to the individual’s developmental stage.
• The behavior is not part of a cultural practice.

Have you ever heard of ruminant animals? These are herbivores that regurgitate previously swallowed food back into their mouths to chew it again. Individuals with Rumination Disorder display similar behavior, regurgitating food, which they may then chew again, swallow, or spit out.

According to the DSM-5, Rumination Disorder is characterized by:

• Persistent regurgitation of food for at least 1 month; the food may then be re-chewed, re-swallowed, or spit out.
• There is no medical explanation for the regurgitation.
• The disorder does not occur exclusively during other feeding or eating disorders.

The name Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder clearly describes the individual’s behavior—avoiding or restricting food intake to the point of failing to meet nutritional needs. People with this disorder derive no pleasure from eating and consequently avoid it, placing their bodies under stress.

According to the DSM-5, Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder is characterized by:

• Failing to eat enough to meet energy needs, resulting in at least one of the following:
  • Significant weight loss (or failure to grow appropriately in children).
  • Nutritional deficiencies.
  • Dependence on parenteral (intravenous) feeding or nutritional supplements (e.g., vitamins).
  • Interference with social functioning.
• The disorder is not explained by food scarcity.
• The disorder does not occur exclusively during other feeding or eating disorders.
• There is no better explanation for the symptoms.

Sources:

• American Psychiatric Association (2013) - Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed.).
• Bernhill, J. W. (2014) - DSM-5 Clinical Cases.

I also recommend watching this video.

If you’d like me to describe another psychology topic in my own words, feel free to ask in the comments!